The Best Guide for Visiting The Pyramids

Visiting The Pyramids

Updated On: March 21, 2024 by   ConnollyCoveConnollyCove

Even if you have seen thousands of pictures of the Pyramids, nothing beats the real-life experience of getting up close to one of the Seven Wonders of the world. Visiting the Pyramids is on the bucket list of millions as these mighty monuments have captured the hearts of many all over the world.

If you are fascinated by this majestic masterpiece, check these facts that most people do not know about the Pyramids. And here’s all that you need to know before visiting the Pyramids:

  1. The Three Pyramids
  2. The Location of The Pyramids
  3. Best Way to Get to The Pyramids
  4. When to Visit The Pyramids
  5. Visiting The Pyramids from the Inside
  6. The Cost of Visiting The Pyramids
  7. Not to Miss When Visiting The Pyramids

The Three Pyramids

Visiting the Pyramids
The Pyramids of Giza

When people talk about visiting the Pyramids of Giza, they are usually referring to the three large pyramids that were built almost 5,000 years ago, at the beginning of human recorded history. These include the Great Pyramid, the Pyramid of Khufu, and the other two Pyramids, the Pyramid of Khafre and the Pyramid of Menkaure.

The Great Pyramid ‘The Pyramid of Khufu’

The Great Pyramid, the only Ancient Wonder to remain largely intact, is the oldest of the three main pyramids and is the site’s most famous monument. It was built around 2570 BC by the Pharaoh Khufu, hence its name and is one of the most well-known monuments in the whole world.

It is believed that 100,000 men worked on the construction of the Great Pyramid for three months every year. Excluding the rock foundation and the interior chambers, the Great Pyramid is 2.3 million cubic meters. The base measurement is 227.5 meters, and the vertical height is 137.2 meters.

For 3,800 years, the Great Pyramid was the tallest building in the world, until the Lincoln Cathedral was built in 1311 AD in England.

The Pyramid of Khafre

The Pyramid of Khafre is exactly 160 meters to the southwest from the Great Pyramid. It was built by Khufu’s son Khafre. Even though the Pyramid of Khafre appears to be larger than the Great Pyramid, this is not true. It just stands on a higher part of the land.

This pyramid has a height of 135.5 meters and a base measurement of 210.5 meters. The top of the Pyramid has managed to preserve the exquisitely burnished blocks of high-quality that once covered the majority of it.

The Pyramid of Menkaure

The Pyramid of Menkaure is the smallest of the three Pyramids. It stands at a height of 65 meters. This Pyramid was built by the 4th-dynasty pharaoh Menkaure as his own tomb. Pharaoh Menkaure is the son of Khafre and the grandson of Khufu.

All the three Pyramids are at a walking distance from each other, so when visiting the Pyramids, you will be able to see all three.

The Location of The Pyramids

Contrary to the common belief, the Pyramids are not located in a secluded desert in Egypt. They are actually located in the busy suburb of Giza on the west bank of the Nile.

The Pyramids Complex is only 13 km away from downtown Cairo and 8 km away from the Nile. This means that you won’t be leaving Great Cairo when visiting the Pyramids.

Best Way to Get to The Pyramids

Visiting The Pyramids
Camel rides by the Pyramids of Giza

Getting to the Pyramids is very easy even for first time goers!

There are many options to get to the Pyramids from basically anywhere in Cairo. The first option is Uber. Visiting the Pyramids through using Uber is a really good choice for a number of reasons.

Number one, you can get an Uber from any point. Two, you will know the fare before even taking your trip. Three, it is safe. And finally, there is a good chance to get an Uber driver that can actually speak English.

However, if you’d like to go through the full Egyptian experience, then you can take the Metro. All you need to do is get off the Metro at Giza station then take a minibus from the point right outside the Metro station. After getting off the minibus you will walk for about 10 minutes to arrive at the entrance of the Pyramids.

When to Visit The Pyramids

You can visit the Pyramids all year round! However, the time of the day at which visiting the pyramids is allowed varies depending on the month.

If you are visiting the Pyramids between October and March, you can visit from 8am to 4 pm. These are the times at which tickets are available. However, if you are already at the location, the monument closes at 5 pm.

During the summer, from April to September, visiting the Pyramids starts at 7 am until 7 pm. These are the official times set by the Egyptian Tourism Authority.

Anyhow, the best time to get to the Pyramids is before 10 am. This is because tour busses of tourist groups arrive at that time. So, if you don’t like being surrounded by big crowds of people. Make sure to get to the Pyramids as early as possible.

Visiting The Pyramids from the Inside

“Can you get inside the Pyramids?,” many people ask.

Yes, you can!

If you are not claustrophobic, you can definitely go inside of the Pyramids and explore their structures. Just a small heads up, they include extremely narrow corridors, so be prepared for that.

The Pyramids of Giza were built to be royal tombs. They were often part of an extensive funerary complex that included queens’ burial sites and mortuary temples for daily offerings.

So, when going inside of the Pyramids, expect to find long narrow corridors that lead to different chambers. One of these chambers is the pharaoh’s final resting place. The chambers sometimes also include a burial chamber for the Queen.

The Cost of Visiting The Pyramids

Visiting The Pyramids

Are the pyramids free to visit?

Well, while there are many monuments around the world that are free to visit, the Pyramids is not one of them. But, the cost of visiting the Pyramids is not high at all.

So, how much is it to visit the Pyramids? The answer is it depends. Let’s break it down for you:

Visiting the Pyramids Without Getting Inside

The ticket for visiting the Pyramids without getting inside is EGP 200 ($13). And, if you are a student, the ticket fare gets reduced to half. So, a student ticket is for EGP 200 ($6.5).

Tickets for Getting Inside The Great Pyramid

To go inside the Pyramid of Khufu, the ticket would cost you EGP 400 ($25.5). And for students, the fare is EGP 200 ($13).

Tickets for Getting Inside The Pyramid of Khafre

Getting inside the Pyramid of Khafre costs way less than going into the Great Pyramid. The fare for the ticket is EGP 100 ($6.5) or EGP 50 ($3.20) if you are a student.

An Inclusive Ticket

If you are looking to do all of these activities at a more affordable price, this option is for you.

The all inclusive ticket is for EGP 600 ($38.20) or EGP 300 ($19.10) for students.

All the tickets can be purchased at the entrance of the Pyramids.

Not to Miss When Visiting The Pyramids

Visiting The Pyramids
The Sphinx

So after getting accustomed with what you need to do to have a smooth day at the Pyramids, here’s a list of activities you shouldn’t miss:

  • Take a selfie with the Sphinx
  • Go on a camel ride
  • Attend the Light and Sound Show (Get tickets from here)

After getting all of the information, is it time to cross visiting the Pyramids off your bucket list?

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